Back in 2009 Michael Bidu hosted his first conference of digital health experts from around the world. A lot has changed since then. Today, many of the innovations in digital health focus on the patient – such things as wearable sensors and virtual house calls.

The goal for Bidu, founder and CEO of Sanotron, Canada’s Centre for Digital Health Innovation? To help put Vancouver on the digital health innovation map. “What I think we managed to do this year, not just Sanotron but also other organizations in British Columbia, this was truly the year we finally managed to put digital health applications on the map,” said Bidu.

And so as it comes time to look back on some of the innovations of 2013, check out what today’s digital doctor might prescribe. These are among presentations highlighted at Sanotron’s Interface 2013, digital health international summit:

Digital health sensor, Proteus Health

‘Take this pill and call me in the morning,’ could become, ‘take this pill and it will text me in the morning.’ That’s thanks to a tiny ingestible sensor created by Proteus Health that’s embedded into a pill to provide digital feedback on the medications you’re taking. Once the sensor reaches your stomach, it sends a signal to a patch you wear on your skin. Power is triggered when your stomach acid comes into contact with copper and magnesium, creating an electrical circuit in the same way a potato battery works. The patch in turn connects via Bluetooth to a smartphone or tablet, which can convey information about medicine you’re taking, as well as your activity and rest and heart rate and text or email your doctor or caregiver. Your doctor could know if you’ve stopped taking your blood pressure medicine or the family of an elderly relative could be alerted if something is amiss. Earlier this year, Proteus closed a $62.5 million US funding round with investment from Oracle, Novartis, Otsuka and others. proteus.com.

Ayogo Health

You might think of your health as serious business, but Vancouver’s Ayogo Health is using games to help people stay well. And it’s working. The software developer creates interactive social games that engage patients in their own care – whether it’s managing their meds, exercising or making other lifestyle changes to improve their health. An example is Ayogo’s HealthSeeker game, created in partnership with the Diabetes Hands Foundation and the Boston-based Joslin Diabetes Center that has thousands of Facebook players tallying up their healthy activities and meals and sharing with friends. Ayogo has found that people who get encouragement from their friends on social networks are 2.5 times more likely to engage in healthy actions as those who don’t. It’s way easier to share news that you’re just back from a 5k walk or run than to list the number of chips you wolfed down while on the couch. ayogo.com.

Medeo

If you’ve sat fuming in a doctor’s office while waiting for your appointment – or worse – found you couldn’t get to the doctor at all, Medeo could be the answer for you. Vancouverbased Medeo.ca lets you visit a doctor virtually, setting up video conferencing calls between patients and physicians using computers and mobile devices. For people suffering chronic illnesses, or those who find it difficult to get to a doctor’s office, whether it’s because of transportation limitations, child care responsibilities or other issues, Medeo brings the doctor to you online. You can upload test results and other data for the doctor; the cost is covered by B.C.’s medical services if you have a Medical Services Plan number and the Medeo physicians can refer you to a specialist if needed. medeo.ca.

Claris Companion

If you’re a member of the so-called sandwich generation, you may know the logistical difficulties of caring for an aging parent while keeping up with your own kids. And if you’re among those considered to be among our aging population (and we won’t put an age here because we know octogenarians who think nothing of flinging themselves down Whistler’s 11-km Peak to Creek run while some 45-year-olds have trouble running for the bus) you might be using technology to keep in touch with far-flung family. If you’re already adept with your iPad or you’re coding on your computer, skip this. If not, Vancouver’s Claris Healthcare has a tablet tailored for “older seniors,” that offers many of the features of a regular tablet, from video calling to email and text messaging plus ones specially geared to seniors – from medication reminders to alerts that can let family know of missed check ins or forgotten medications. clariscompanion.com.

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